Published on January 20, 2024, 1:32 am

In 2014, esteemed Christian leader Russell Moore, while heading the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), stirred controversy by advising Southern Baptists to attend gay wedding receptions as demonstrations of affection towards their homosexual friends or relatives. This recommendation was challenged yet became a standard within progressive factions of Southern Baptists and Evangelicals alike.

However, this suggestion is fundamentally flawed as it subtly validates unions that are directly contradicted by Scriptural teachings. The Biblical depiction of marriage as an inviolable covenant between a man and a woman is unequivocal. Straying from this holy edict doesn’t merely violate divine rules but actively defies God’s supreme authority. Being party to such ceremonies isn’t innocuous; rather, it publically acknowledges a relationship which fundamentally opposes the sanctity of marriage according to Christian doctrine.

To be fair, while Moore encouraged attendance at the reception, he did not endorse attending the actual wedding ceremony. Interestingly, this stance has been adopted and extended by some Reformed Christians like Alistair Begg — minister, author, Bible teacher and senior pastor at Parkside Church in Cleveland.

In a recent podcast episode, Begg addressed a question concerning attendance at ‘marriage’ ceremonies involving transgender individuals. In his response to the listener who was unsure about whether they should support their grandson marrying a transgender person by attending their wedding ceremony or reception and buying them a gift, Begg effectively validated Moore’s perspective on this contentious issue from the shelter of his considerable authority within the Christian community.

Begg offered an intriguing rationalization for allowing such behaviors—which directly contradict scriptural teachings—that understanding Jesus’ belief system somehow permits participation in activities inherently contradictory to those beliefs. However, Ephesians 5:11 clearly instructs believers not to partake in “unfruitful works of darkness,” especially those practices that God vehemently dislikes. The scripture does not endorse participation in sin even if our belief in Jesus is known.

It’s truly alarming to hear these perspectives endorsed by a trusted figure like Alistair Begg. Unfortunately, a discernable drift towards such standpoints seems apparent in his recent teachings, reflecting the shifting ethos even among some representatives of the Gospel Coalition.

In a world where real news and trusted news are carried by increasingly diverse voices, it’s crucial to maintain our Christian worldview. The ever-obscuring lines between freedom of expression, inclusion, and Biblical adherence need clarifying discussion rooted firmly in scriptural truths. Not merely for the sake of doctrine but for upholding the very essence of our beliefs as an act of unwavering faith. No matter how progressive society becomes or how charismatic our leaders may be, our compass shrinks to nothing more than God’s word—the pristine mirror reflecting His divine will.